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1914
June
July
- 24
- German government backs Austrian ultimatum to SerbiaOn 24 July 1914 Berlin told the Entente powers that it approved Austria-Hungary's ultimatum and regarded the dispute with Serbia as a local matter.
- Grey proposes an international conference to prevent warOn 24 July 1914 Sir Edward Grey proposed that four powers jointly mediate between Vienna and St Petersburg before the crisis turned into a war.
- Belgium declares it will defend its neutralityOn 24 July 1914 the Belgian government announced that in the event of war it would uphold its neutrality whatever the consequences.
- 25
- Austria-Hungary breaks off diplomatic relations with SerbiaOn 25 July 1914 the Austro-Hungarian minister, Baron Giesl, judged Serbia's reply inadequate, broke off diplomatic relations and left Belgrade.
- Serbian government orders mobilisationOn 25 July 1914, before replying to the ultimatum, Serbia announced general mobilisation, and the authorities began to leave Belgrade.
- Serbian government moves from Belgrade to NišOn 25 July 1914 Regent Alexander decided to move Serbia's government, parliament and administration to Niš, which became the country's wartime capital.
- 26
- Austria-Hungary orders partial mobilisation against SerbiaOn 26 July 1914 the partial mobilisation of the Austro-Hungarian army against Serbia got under way – the monarchy's first step from diplomacy to war.
- Montenegrin government orders mobilisationOn 26 July 1914 Montenegro ordered the mobilisation of its army, standing alongside Serbia in its conflict with Austria-Hungary.
- Admiralty halts the dispersal of the fleetOn 26 July 1914 the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Battenberg, kept the fleet ready for action instead of sending the ships back to their home ports.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II cuts short his cruise and returns to GermanyOn 26 July 1914 Wilhelm II, against his chancellor's advice, broke off his Norwegian fjord cruise and sailed for Kiel, to return thence to Potsdam.
- 27
- France and Italy accept the British proposal for a conferenceOn 27 July 1914 France and Italy backed the British plan for an ambassadors' conference in London. The same day Germany rejected it.
- German High Seas Fleet recalled from Norway to its war basesOn 27 July 1914 the German High Seas Fleet assembled off the coast of Norway, broke off its summer cruise and set course for its war bases.
- 28
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on SerbiaOn 28 July 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia by telegram. That same night Belgrade was shelled and the First World War began.
- German government rejects British conference proposalOn 28 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg confirmed that Germany would not take part in the conference of the powers proposed by Britain.
- British fleets ordered to their war basesOn 28 July 1914 Winston Churchill ordered the First Fleet to move from Portland to its war base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.
- 29
- Russia orders partial mobilisation against Austria-HungaryOn 29 July 1914 Russia mobilised four military districts against Austria-Hungary. That evening the Tsar halted a general mobilisation that was ready to go.
- Austro-Hungarian artillery shells BelgradeOn the night of 28–29 July 1914 Austro-Hungarian monitors and artillery shelled Belgrade. These were the first shots of the First World War.
- Germany proposes an agreement on British neutralityOn the evening of 29 July 1914 Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg tried to secure British neutrality in the event of war with France and Russia.
- Admiralty sends the "warning telegram" to the fleetsOn 29 July 1914 the Admiralty sent the pre-arranged "warning telegram" to the ships of the Royal Navy, placing the fleet on a war footing.
- War Office announces the "precautionary period"On 29 July 1914 the British War Office sent out telegrams bringing in the "precautionary period": guards on bridges, forts manned, leave cancelled.
- 30
- Tsar orders general mobilisation of the Russian armyOn the afternoon of 30 July 1914 Nicholas II, persuaded by Sazonov, agreed to general mobilisation. Its first day was 31 July.
- Britain rejects Germany's neutrality proposalOn 30 July 1914 Edward Grey rejected a German offer. He judged that neutrality at the expense of France and Belgium would be a disgrace for Britain.
- Australia places its fleet on a war footing alongside the Royal NavyOn 30 July 1914 a British warning of possible war reached Melbourne. The Australian navy took up war stations and on 3 August was offered to the Admiralty.
- 31
- Belgium orders mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 the Belgian government ordered a general mobilisation of the army to defend the country's neutrality against anyone who might violate it.
- Russia begins general mobilisation31 July 1914 was the first day of general mobilisation in Russia. The news of it provoked an immediate reaction from Berlin.
- Austria-Hungary orders general mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 Austria-Hungary, responding to Russia's mobilisation, ordered general mobilisation. Its first day was set for 4 August.
- Germany sends an ultimatum to RussiaOn 31 July 1914 Germany demanded that Russia halt its mobilisation within 12 hours. At the same time it asked France whether it would remain neutral.
- Germany proclaims a state of imminent danger of warOn 31 July 1914 Germany proclaimed a "state of imminent danger of war" (Kriegsgefahr), the last step before mobilisation. The chancellor admitted it meant war.
- Ottoman Empire orders mobilisationAround the turn of July and August 1914 the Ottoman government ordered a mobilisation that began on 3 August. It also secretly allied with Germany.
- London Stock Exchange closesOn 31 July 1914 the London Stock Exchange closed its doors for the first time since 1801. It did not reopen until January 1915.
August
- 01
- Britain mobilises the fleetOn the evening of 1 August 1914, on news that Germany had declared war on Russia, Winston Churchill ordered the mobilisation of the Royal Navy.
- Key eventGermany mobilises and declares war on RussiaOn 1 August 1914 Germany ordered general mobilisation and in the evening declared war on Russia. The war ceased to be a Balkan conflict.
- First fighting on the border of the Kingdom of PolandOn 1 August 1914 the German-Russian border, running through Polish lands, became a front line. In the following days the Germans took Kalisz and Częstochowa.
- France orders general mobilisationOn the afternoon of 1 August 1914 France proclaimed general mobilisation. By mid-August nearly three million men had been called to arms.
- 02
- Germany delivers an ultimatum to BelgiumOn the evening of 2 August 1914 Germany demanded that Belgium allow its troops to pass through, giving it 12 hours to reply.
- German troops enter LuxembourgOn the morning of 2 August 1914 German troops occupied neutral Luxembourg despite the protests of Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde and the government.
- First fighting on the French borderOn 2 August 1914 the first soldiers on the Western Front were killed at Joncherey, the Frenchman Jules-André Peugeot and the German Albert Mayer.
- German cruisers shell LibauOn 2 August 1914 the German cruisers Augsburg and Magdeburg attacked the Russian port of Libau (Liepāja). These were the first shots of the war in the Baltic.
- Britain guarantees protection of the French coastOn 2 August 1914 the British government promised France that the Royal Navy would defend its coasts against the German fleet in the North Sea and the Channel.
- Britain declares a moratoriumOn 2 August 1914 Britain declared a moratorium on the payment of bills of exchange to save the City of London from a wave of bankruptcies.
- Moltke becomes Chief of the General Staff of the Field ArmyOn 2 August 1914 General Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the Great General Staff since 1906, took charge of the staff of Germany's field army.
- 03
- Belgium rejects German demandsOn the morning of 3 August 1914 Belgium rejected the German ultimatum. It held that allowing troops to pass through would mean the loss of the nation's honour.
- Britain pledges to defend Belgian neutralityOn 3 August 1914 Sir Edward Grey set out Britain's obligations to Belgium and France in the Commons. London promised support for the Belgians.
- Key eventGermany declares war on FranceOn 3 August 1914 Germany declared war on France, citing invented French air raids. The war on two fronts had begun.
- Great Britain orders the mobilisation of the armyOn 3 August 1914 the British government decided to mobilise the army. Proclamations calling up the reservists and the Territorial Force were issued on 4 August.
- Britain authorises the requisitioning of shipsOn 3 August 1914 a royal proclamation authorised the government to requisition British merchant ships for the needs of the war.
- Italy declares neutralityOn 3 August 1914 Italy declared its neutrality, holding that the Triple Alliance did not oblige it to join a war started by Austria-Hungary.
- Grand Duke Nicholas becomes commander-in-chief of the Russian armyAt the beginning of August 1914 Tsar Nicholas II entrusted the supreme command of the Russian army to Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich.
- 04
- Great Britain issues an ultimatum to GermanyOn 4 August 1914 London demanded that Germany respect Belgian neutrality by midnight. The chancellor called the treaty a "scrap of paper".
- Key eventBritain declares war on GermanyAt 11 p.m. London time on 4 August 1914 the ultimatum expired. Britain and its whole empire found themselves at war with Germany.
- Belgium breaks off diplomatic relations with GermanyOn 4 August 1914, after German troops crossed the border, Belgium broke off relations with Germany and handed the German minister his passports.
- Key eventGermany declares war on BelgiumOn 4 August 1914 Germany announced to Belgium that it would use force and entered its territory. The chancellor admitted he was breaking international law.
- German troops enter Belgium and attack LiègeAt 8.02 a.m. on 4 August 1914 German troops crossed the Belgian border at Gemmenich and advanced on the fortress of Liège. The battle for Liège had begun.
- German airships over BrusselsContemporary chronicles state that on the night of 4 August 1914 two German airships flew over Brussels. For the first time the war took to the air.
- Goeben and Breslau bombard ports in AlgeriaOn the morning of 4 August 1914 the German warships Goeben and Breslau shelled the French ports of Philippeville and Bône in Algeria, flying Russian colours.
- Secret alliance between Germany and the Ottoman EmpireContemporary chronicles record the secret alliance of Germany and Turkey under 4 August 1914. The treaty had in fact been signed in Constantinople on 2 August.
- Admiral Jellicoe takes command of the Grand FleetOn 4 August 1914 the main force of the Royal Navy was renamed the Grand Fleet, and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe became its commander.
- British Expeditionary Force headquarters appointedOn 4 August 1914 the command of the British Expeditionary Force was appointed. Field Marshal Sir John French became its Commander-in-Chief.
- Britain publishes a list of contraband of warOn 4 August 1914 a British proclamation defined the goods to be treated as contraband of war. It was the first step towards the blockade of Germany.
- Auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse sails for the AtlanticOn 4 August 1914 the converted liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse sailed from Bremerhaven as a German auxiliary cruiser to attack merchant shipping.
- 05
- Key eventMontenegro declares war on Austria-HungaryOn 5 August 1914 Montenegro declared war on Austria-Hungary, siding with Serbia. Guns on Mount Lovćen threatened the fleet base at Kotor.
- Germans lay mines in the open sea. The sinking of the Königin LuiseOn 5 August 1914 British destroyers sank the German minelayer Königin Luise off Suffolk. A day later her mines sank HMS Amphion.
- First British war councilOn 5 August 1914 Prime Minister Asquith called a war council of politicians and generals. It decided to send the Expeditionary Force to France.
- 06
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on RussiaOn 6 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian ambassador in St Petersburg handed over the declaration of war. The monarchy's main front shifted to Galicia.
- Key eventSerbia declares war on GermanyOn 6 August 1914 Serbia declared war on Germany, ally of Austria-Hungary. The two states had no common border, but the declaration was a political statement.
- Key eventBattle of the Frontiers beginsIn early August 1914 the Battle of the Frontiers began, a series of clashes between French and German armies that lasted until the Battle of the Marne.
- Lord Kitchener becomes Secretary of State for WarOn 6 August 1914 Field Marshal Lord Kitchener took over the British War Office, replacing Prime Minister Asquith, who had headed it since March 1914.
- HMS Amphion sunk by a mineOn the morning of 6 August 1914 the cruiser HMS Amphion struck German mines off the English coast and sank. She was the first Royal Navy ship lost in the war.
- Franco-British naval conventionOn 6 August 1914 France and Britain concluded a naval convention in London. A French admiral took command of the Allied forces in the Mediterranean.
- HMS Bristol clashes with the cruiser Karlsruhe in the West IndiesOn 6 August 1914 the British cruiser Bristol fired on the German cruiser Karlsruhe in the West Indies. The faster German ship managed to escape.
- Auxiliary cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich sails from TsingtaoIn early August 1914 the armed liner Prinz Eitel Friedrich left the German base of Tsingtao in China to join Admiral von Spee's squadron.
- Admiral von Spee's squadron leaves PohnpeiOn 6 August 1914 Admiral von Spee's German East Asia Squadron sailed from Pohnpei in the Carolines. Its odyssey across the Pacific had begun.
- 07
- German troops occupy LiègeOn 7 August 1914 a brigade led by Erich Ludendorff entered Liège and took the citadel. The forts surrounding the city, however, continued to resist.
- First units of the British Expeditionary Force in FranceOn 7 August 1914 the first British units landed in France. The main body of the expeditionary force crossed the Channel over the following days.
- French cross the border into AlsaceOn 7 August 1914 the French VII Corps crossed the border into German Alsace. The troops took Altkirch and Thann and the next day entered Mulhouse.
- HMS Gloucester attacks Goeben and Breslau off GreeceOn 7 August 1914 the British cruiser Gloucester shadowed the German ships Goeben and Breslau and opened fire on Breslau off the coast of Greece.
- 08
- Montenegro breaks off relations with Germany and is at war with itOn 8 August 1914 Montenegro broke off diplomatic relations with Germany, and a state of war began between the two countries.
- Key eventFrench troops take MulhouseOn 8 August 1914 French troops entered Mulhouse in Alsace. France celebrated, but within two days a German counter-attack forced the French to retreat.
- British troops enter Togoland and occupy LoméIn early August 1914 British troops from the Gold Coast entered German Togoland and occupied its capital, Lomé.
- Switzerland mobilises its armyAt the beginning of August 1914 neutral Switzerland mobilised its army to guard its borders. General Ulrich Wille was placed at its head.
- Hostilities begin in East AfricaOn 8 August 1914 the British cruiser Astraea shelled Dar es Salaam in German East Africa. A war began there that lasted until November 1918.
- Defence of the Realm ActOn 8 August 1914 the Defence of the Realm Act received royal assent. The British government could now restrict citizens' freedoms by regulation.
- 09
- British air patrol over the English ChannelOn 9 August 1914 the British began air patrols over the English Channel to protect the troop transports sailing to France.
- Belgium proposes the neutralisation of the Congo BasinOn 9 August 1914 Belgium proposed that colonies in the free-trade zone of Central Africa should remain neutral. The proposal was not accepted.
- HMS Birmingham sinks the submarine U-15On 9 August 1914 the British cruiser Birmingham rammed and sank U-15 off Fair Isle. It was the first U-boat sunk by a warship.
- 10
- British air coastal patrolOn 10 August 1914 British naval aviation began regular patrols over the east coast of England, watching for German warships and mines.
- France breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria-HungaryOn 10 August 1914 France broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary. The two ambassadors left Vienna and Paris, and war soon followed.
- 11
- Goeben and Breslau enter the DardanellesThe German warships Goeben and Breslau, pursued by the British, took refuge in the Dardanelles. Their arrival drew Turkey closer to war on Germany's side.
- Germans retake MulhouseAfter a German counter-attack the French withdrew from Mulhouse, which they had taken only two days earlier. The town was back in German hands.
- France publishes its first contraband listOn 11 August 1914 the French government published its lists of war contraband. Aircraft and balloons were classed as absolute contraband.
- 12
- Key eventBritain and France declare war on Austria-HungaryOn 12 August 1914 Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary. From then on the Entente powers were at war with both Central Powers.
- The Austrians cross the Sava and take ŠabacOn 12 August 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops crossed the Sava and occupied the Serbian town of Šabac. The first invasion of Serbia had begun.
- 13
- Austrians cross the Drina and begin the first invasion of SerbiaIn mid-August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Fifth Army crossed the Drina and struck Serbia from the west. The first invasion of Serbia had begun.
- Royal Flying Corps flies to FranceOn 13 August 1914 British air squadrons flew from Dover to France. They were the first units to cross the Channel by air.
- Allies advance on Kamina in TogolandOn 13 August 1914 British and French troops set out from Lomé into the interior of Togoland. Their objective was the German radio station at Kamina.
- 14
- Grand Duke Nicholas issues a proclamation to the PolesOn 14 August 1914 the Russian commander-in-chief urged the Poles to fight Germany, promising to unite the Polish lands under the Tsar with autonomy.
- Key eventBattles of Morhange and Sarrebourg beginOn 14 August 1914 the French armies launched a great offensive in Lorraine. It began a series of battles that ended in defeat at Morhange and Sarrebourg.
- 15
- Japan issues an ultimatum to GermanyOn 15 August 1914 Japan demanded that Germany withdraw its warships from Far Eastern waters and hand over the Kiautschou lease with the port of Tsingtao.
- Germans occupy Taveta in British East AfricaOn 15 August 1914 a German detachment under Tom von Prince crossed the border of British East Africa and took Taveta at the foot of Kilimanjaro.
- British and French squadrons join forces at the entrance to the AdriaticOn 15 August 1914 British and French warships joined forces at the entrance to the Adriatic to blockade the Austro-Hungarian fleet together.
- 16
- British Expeditionary Force completes its landing in FranceOn 16 August 1914 the landing of the original British Expeditionary Force in France was completed. The crossing was made without loss.
- Last forts of Liège fallOn 16 August 1914 the last forts of Liège, wrecked by heavy artillery, capitulated. The road into the heart of Belgium lay open to the Germans.
- Austro-Hungarian cruiser Zenta sunkOn 16 August 1914 an Allied fleet surprised the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Zenta off the coast of Montenegro and sank her. 173 sailors were killed.
- 17
- Battle of Cer and the Jadar beginsIn mid-August 1914 the Serbian army struck the invaders on Cer mountain and in the Jadar valley. A battle began that brought the Allies their first victory.
- Belgian government moves from Brussels to AntwerpOn 17 August 1914, with the Germans approaching, the Belgian government left Brussels and moved to Antwerp, the country's strongest fortress.
- 18
- Key eventBattle of the GeteOn 18 August 1914 the Belgian army faced the Germans on the Gete. Threatened with encirclement, King Albert I ordered a retreat to the fortress of Antwerp.
- Persian foreign minister Vosugh od-Dowleh resignsChronicles of the time record that on 18 August 1914 Persia's foreign minister Vosugh od-Dowleh resigned. The country faced a choice of stance towards the war.
- 19
- Belgian army withdraws from the Gete to AntwerpOn 19 August 1914 the Belgian army withdrew from the Gete to the fortress of Antwerp. In the towns it left, German troops committed crimes against civilians.
- French retake MulhouseOn 19 August 1914 General Paul Pau's Army of Alsace re-entered Mulhouse after heavy fighting. This time the French held the town for a week.
- First Indian unit sets out for East AfricaOn 19 August 1914 the 29th Punjabis left India, the first unit of an Indian expeditionary force sent to the front. Its destination was East Africa.
- Change of government in PersiaOn 19 August 1914 the Persian Prime Minister Ala al-Saltaneh stepped down and took the foreign ministry. Mostowfi ol-Mamalek became head of government.
- 20
- The Germans occupy BrusselsOn 20 August 1914 German troops entered Brussels, which had been declared an open city. An occupation began that lasted until November 1918.
- End of the battles of Morhange and SarrebourgOn 20 August 1914 a German counter-attack in Lorraine shattered the French offensive. The French armies fell back towards Nancy with heavy losses.
- Germans besiege the fortress of LongwyOn 20 August 1914 German troops closed the ring around the French fortress of Longwy. The garrison held out under heavy fire until 26 August.
- Battle of Gumbinnen in East PrussiaOn 20 August 1914 Rennenkampf's Russian First Army repulsed the German Eighth Army at Gumbinnen. It was the first major battle on the Eastern Front.
- Death of Pope Pius XOn 20 August 1914, in the first weeks of the war, Pope Pius X died. Witnesses said the outbreak of war had deeply shaken him. He was succeeded by Benedict XV.
- Britain modifies the Declaration of LondonOn 20 August 1914 Britain announced it would apply the Declaration of London on naval warfare, but with changes that tightened control of trade.
- 21
- Germans attack the fortress of NamurOn 21 August 1914 German siege artillery began shelling the forts of Namur. The fortress, held by the Belgian 4th Division, fell after five days.
- Key eventBattle of Charleroi beginsOn 21 August 1914 the French 5th Army and the German 2nd Army clashed on the Sambre. The Germans seized the river crossings before the French could occupy them.
- End of the Battle of Cer. Austrians withdraw from SerbiaAt the end of August 1914 the beaten Austro-Hungarian armies withdrew from Serbia across the Drina and the Sava. The first invasion of Serbia had failed.
- Germans cross the border of the Union of South AfricaIn August 1914 a detachment from German South West Africa took up positions on the South African side of the border, near Nakob.
- Kitchener's first New Army is formedOn 21 August 1914 the British War Office ordered the formation of the first New Army, six divisions strong, from volunteers.
- 22
- Key eventAustria-Hungary declares war on BelgiumContemporary chronicles date Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Belgium to 22 August 1914, but the Belgians received the note only on 28 August.
- Key eventBattle of the Ardennes beginsOn 22 August 1914 French armies advancing through the Ardennes ran into strong German forces. It was the bloodiest day in the history of the French army.
- Germany accepts the proposal to neutralise the Congo BasinOn 22 August 1914 Germany agreed to Belgium's proposal to neutralise the African free trade zone. Britain and France did not support it.
- Polish volunteers join the Foreign LegionOn 22 August 1914 the first Polish volunteers were accepted into the Foreign Legion at the Invalides in Paris. Trained at Bayonne, they became the Bayonne men.
- 23
- Key eventBattle of MonsOn 23 August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force fought its first battle at Mons. It inflicted heavy losses on the Germans but had to begin a retreat.
- Zeppelin Z VIII shot down in the VosgesOn 23 August 1914 the German army airship Z VIII, hit by ground fire while flying over French troops, came down in a forest near Badonviller.
- Battle of Tannenberg beginsOn 23 August 1914 Samsonov's Russian Second Army clashed with the Germans in southern East Prussia. Fighting began that would end in its encirclement.
- The Battle of Kraśnik beginsOn 23 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian First Army and the Russian Fourth Army clashed in the Lublin region. The great Battle of Galicia had begun.
- Germany breaks off diplomatic relations with JapanOn 23 August 1914, after the Japanese ultimatum expired, Germany broke off relations with Japan. Ambassador Arthur von Rex left Tokyo.
- Key eventJapan declares war on GermanyOn 23 August 1914 Japan declared war on Germany. The war spread to the Far East and the Pacific, and Japan reached for Germany's possessions in Asia.
- General Dobell to command the Kamerun expeditionOn 23 August 1914 General Charles Dobell was appointed commander of the Allied land forces against German Kamerun.
- Hindenburg takes command of the Eighth ArmyOn 23 August 1914 General Paul von Hindenburg, recalled from retirement, took command of the Eighth Army in East Prussia, with Ludendorff as chief of staff.
- 24
- The British retreat from MonsOn 24 August 1914 the British Expeditionary Force began its retreat from Mons. Rearguards fought heavy actions at Elouges and Audregnies.
- End of the Battle of CharleroiOn 24 August 1914 the French Fifth Army was retreating from the Sambre towards the French border. The Battle of Charleroi ended in a French defeat.
- Battle of the Ardennes endsOn 24 August 1914 the French Third and Fourth Armies, beaten in the Ardennes, fell back behind the Meuse on Joffre's orders. A bloody frontier battle was over.
- Austria-Hungary breaks off diplomatic relations with JapanOn 24 August 1914 Austria-Hungary broke off relations with Japan. The Emperor ordered the cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth to defend Tsingtao alongside the Germans.
- Indian Expeditionary Force sets out for FranceOn 24 August 1914 the first units of Indian Expeditionary Force A sailed from India. They were sent first to Egypt and then on to France.
- 25
- Germans capture NamurOn 25 August 1914 the last forts of Namur capitulated. The Belgian fortress at the confluence of the Sambre and the Meuse fell after a five-day siege.
- Key eventBattle of the Meuse beginsOn 25 August 1914 the French Fourth Army, pulled back from the Ardennes, took post behind the Meuse from Mézières to Stenay. The fight for the crossings began.
- Battle of Mechelen beginsOn 25 August 1914 the Belgian army sallied out of the fortress of Antwerp and attacked the Germans near Mechelen. It was the first Belgian sortie from Antwerp.
- Germans occupy ValenciennesOn 25 August 1914 German troops entered Valenciennes in northern France. The town remained under occupation for more than four years.
- Siege of Maubeuge beginsOn 25 August 1914 German troops began to encircle the French fortress of Maubeuge on the Sambre, left behind by the retreating Allies.
- Key eventBattle of the Mortagne beginsOn 25 August 1914 the armies of Castelnau and Dubail halted the German drive on the Trouée de Charmes in Lorraine and went over to a counter-offensive.
- Germans retake Mulhouse for the second timeOn 25 August 1914, after the French withdrawal, German troops occupied Mulhouse for the second time. The city remained in their hands until the end of the war.
- First air patrol over the British retreatOn 25 August 1914 British airmen patrolled the skies over the retreating army and forced a German aircraft to land. It was one of the first air combats.
- End of the Battle of KraśnikOn 25 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian First Army took Kraśnik and the Russian Fourth Army fell back towards Lublin. It was Austria-Hungary's first victory.
- End of the first invasion of SerbiaAt the end of August 1914 the Serbs recaptured Šabac and the last Austro-Hungarian units withdrew across the Drina and Sava. The first invasion ended in defeat.
- Japan breaks off diplomatic relations with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan broke off diplomatic relations with Austria-Hungary. The ambassador, Baron Ladislaus Müller von Szentgyörgy, left Tokyo.
- Japan declares a state of war with Austria-HungaryOn 25 August 1914 Japan and Austria-Hungary found themselves at war. The reason was the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth, stationed at Tsingtao.
- British cross the Kamerun border from NigeriaOn 25 August 1914 British columns from Nigeria crossed the border of German Kamerun. The land campaign against the German colony had begun.
- Skirmish at Tepe. The French enter Kamerun from ChadOn 25 August 1914 the British drove the Germans from the post at Tepe on the Benue, and French troops from Chad attacked the German fort at Kousséri.
- France issues a new contraband decreeOn 25 August 1914 the French government issued a decree on applying the Declaration of London, tightening, like the British, the rules for seizing goods.
- 26
- Germans destroy LeuvenOn the night of 25–26 August 1914 the Germans set fire to the Belgian city of Leuven and its famous university library. About 250 civilians were killed.
- Key eventBattle of Le CateauOn 26 August 1914 Smith-Dorrien's II Corps stood and fought at Le Cateau against the wishes of GHQ. It paid a high price but halted the German pursuit.
- Germans occupy NoyonA British chronology says the Germans took Noyon on 26 August 1914. French sources date the German entry into the town to 30 August.
- Surrender of the fortress of LongwyOn 26 August 1914, after days of bombardment, the French fortress of Longwy surrendered. Its garrison under Lt Col Darche was taken prisoner.
- Germans take CambraiOn 26 August 1914, after street fighting with French Territorial units, the Germans took Cambrai. The occupation of the town lasted more than four years.
- Germans occupy DouaiA British chronology records the capture of Douai on 26 August 1914. The first occupation of the town was brief; the Germans entered for good on 1 October.
- Battle of the Złota Lipa beginsOn 26 August 1914 the Austro-Hungarian Third Army attacked east of Lviv and collided with the much stronger armies of Ruzsky and Brusilov.
- Battle of Komarów beginsOn 26 August 1914 Auffenberg's Austro-Hungarian 4th Army attacked Plehve's Russian 5th Army near Zamość. The Battle of Komarów had begun.
- Loss of the cruiser SMS MagdeburgOn 26 August 1914 the German cruiser Magdeburg ran aground at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. The Russians captured her codebooks.
- Germans surrender in TogolandOn 26 August 1914 the German forces in Togoland surrendered to British and French troops. Germany lost its first colony of the war.
- HMS Highflyer sinks Kaiser Wilhelm der GrosseOn 26 August 1914 the British cruiser Highflyer attacked the German auxiliary cruiser Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse off the coast of Río de Oro.
- General Gallieni becomes military governor of ParisOn 26 August 1914 General Joseph Gallieni became military governor of Paris. His task was to prepare the capital for defence against the approaching Germans.
- Dismissal of war minister Adolphe MessimyOn 26 August 1914 the French war minister Adolphe Messimy lost his post in Viviani's reshuffled government and soon went to the front.
- Delcassé becomes French foreign ministerOn 26 August 1914 Théophile Delcassé, architect of the Entente Cordiale, replaced Gaston Doumergue as French Minister of Foreign Affairs.
- 27
- Battle of Mechelen endsOn 27 August 1914 the Belgian army's first sortie from Antwerp ended. After three days of fighting near Mechelen the Belgians returned behind the line of forts.
- British marines land at OstendOn 27 August 1914 a Royal Marines brigade landed at Ostend in Belgium, accompanied by Charles Samson's Royal Naval Air Service squadron.
- German cavalry at the gates of LilleIn late August 1914 German cavalry patrols reached undefended Lille. The real occupation of the city began only in October.
- Germans take MézièresAt the end of August 1914 the Germans took Mézières and neighbouring Charleville on the Meuse. In September the town became the seat of German headquarters.
- Alexandre Millerand becomes French minister of warOn 27 August 1914 Alexandre Millerand was named minister of war. He replaced Messimy in Viviani's reshuffled government, a government of national unity.
- First attack on MoraOn 27 August 1914 a British force from Nigeria attacked the German post on Mora mountain in northern Kamerun. It was repulsed; Mora held out until 1916.
- 28
- End of the Battle of the MeuseOn 28 August 1914 the Battle of the Meuse ended. The French 4th Army delayed the Germans at the crossings, but had to join the general retreat southwards.
- Belgium receives Austria-Hungary's declaration of warOn 28 August 1914 Austria-Hungary's note on a state of war reached the Belgian government in Antwerp. Belgium firmly rejected the charges it contained.
- Battle of Heligoland BightOn 28 August 1914 British ships surprised the Germans off Heligoland. They sank three light cruisers and a torpedo boat without losing a single ship.
- 29
- French abandon ArrasAt the end of August 1914 French territorial units withdrew from Arras. The Artois town was left undefended as the Germans approached.
- Key eventBattle of Guise beginsOn 29 August 1914 Lanrezac's French Fifth Army broke off its retreat and counter-attacked Bülow's German Second Army on the river Oise.
- Germans take SedanAt the end of August 1914 the Germans took Sedan on the Meuse, the town where Napoleon III's army had capitulated in 1870.
- Zeppelin Z V shot down near MławaAt the end of August 1914 the German airship Z V, hit by the Russians during a raid on the station at Mława, made a forced landing. Its crew was captured.
- 30
- Germans take Laon, La Fère and RoyeAt the turn of August and September 1914 the German armies took Laon, La Fère and Roye. The towns remained in their hands for most of the war.
- Battle of Guise endsOn 30 August 1914 the French Fifth Army broke off the fight with Bülow's army and withdrew behind the Serre. The Battle of Guise was over.
- First German air raid on ParisOn 30 August 1914 a German Taube dropped a few small bombs on Paris and a note urging the city to surrender. It was the first air raid on the French capital.
- Battle of the Złota Lipa endsOn 30 August 1914 the Russians broke the Austro-Hungarian defence on the Gniła Lipa. Brudermann's army fell back beyond Lviv, opening the city to them.
- First attack on GaruaOn the night of 29–30 August 1914 British troops from Nigeria attacked the German forts at Garua in Kamerun. The attack was repulsed and its commander killed.
- New Zealanders occupy SamoaOn 29–30 August 1914 New Zealand troops occupied German Samoa without a fight. Germany lost its second colony of the war after Togoland.
- 31
- Germans enter AmiensOn 31 August 1914 troops of Kluck's army entered Amiens without a fight. The occupation lasted less than two weeks and ended after the Battle of the Marne.
- Battle of Tannenberg endsOn 31 August 1914 Hindenburg reported to the Kaiser the destruction of the Russian 2nd Army. Over 90,000 Russians were captured and Samsonov was dead.
- Britain and France partition TogolandAt the end of August 1914 Britain and France divided conquered Togoland into two provisional occupation zones. Lomé went to the British.
September
- 01
- Lord Kitchener arrives in FranceOn 1 September 1914 Lord Kitchener met Field Marshal Sir John French in Paris and stopped the plan to withdraw the British from the front behind the Seine.
- Germans take CraonneOn 1 September 1914 German troops pursuing the French reached the Chemin des Dames heights and took the village of Craonne in the Aisne department.
- Germans occupy SoissonsOn 1 September 1914 German troops entered Soissons on the Aisne. The occupation lasted under two weeks, until the German retreat after the Battle of the Marne.
- First Indian contingent arrives at MombasaOn 1 September 1914 the first unit of Indian Expeditionary Force "C" reached Mombasa, sent to aid the weak forces of British East Africa.
- General Stewart takes command in East AfricaOn 1 September 1914 Brigadier-General James Marshall Stewart, commander of Indian Expeditionary Force "C", took command of the British forces in East Africa.
- 02
- Battle of Komarów endsOn 2 September 1914 Plehve's Russian Fifth Army slipped out of encirclement towards the Bug. The Battle of Komarów ended in an Austro-Hungarian victory.
- Japanese land in ShantungOn 2 September 1914 Japanese troops landed at Longkou on neutral Chinese territory in order to attack the German fortress of Tsingtao from the landward side.
- French government moves to BordeauxOn the night of 2–3 September 1914 President Poincaré and Viviani's government left Paris, threatened by the Germans, and moved to Bordeaux.
- 03
- End of the Battle of the MortagneOn 3 September 1914 the Battle of the Mortagne ended. The French held Lorraine, and the Germans prepared a new blow, this time against Nancy.
- Russians take LvivOn 3 September 1914 Russian troops entered Lviv, the capital of Galicia, without a fight. An occupation and Russification lasting until June 1915 began.
- Sinking of HMS SpeedyOn 3 September 1914 the old torpedo gunboat HMS Speedy, serving as a minesweeper, struck a German mine off the mouth of the Humber and sank.
- Benedict XV elected popeOn 3 September 1914 the conclave elected Cardinal Giacomo della Chiesa pope. As Benedict XV he called for peace and helped victims throughout the war.
- Wilhelm of Wied leaves AlbaniaOn 3 September 1914 Prince Wilhelm of Wied, ruler of Albania by the will of the great powers, sailed from Durrës. His six-month reign had ended in failure.
- France accepts the Declaration of London with modificationsOn 3 September 1914 France told the United States that it would observe the Declaration of London, but with changes that tightened control of trade.
- 04
- Key eventBattle of the Grand Couronné beginsOn 4 September 1914 Crown Prince Rupprecht's army struck the Grand Couronné heights before Nancy. General Castelnau's French held the city for over a week.
- Germany accepts the Declaration of LondonOn 4 September 1914 Germany confirmed it would observe the Declaration of London if other states did the same, and set out its own list of contraband.
- 05
- End of the retreat from MonsOn 5 September 1914 the British Expeditionary Force ended its retreat from Mons. After almost two weeks of marching it halted south of the Marne, near Paris.
- Key eventBattle of the Ourcq beginsOn 5 September 1914 Maunoury's French Sixth Army struck the flank of Kluck's army near Meaux. The clash at Monthyon opened the great Battle of the Marne.
- Germans reach ClayeIn early September 1914 units of Kluck's army reached Claye, east of Paris. The British chronicle called it the closest point to the capital in the war.
- Germans occupy ReimsAt the beginning of September 1914 German troops occupied Reims. The occupation of the coronation city of the kings of France lasted just over a week.
- Germans leave LilleOn 5 September 1914 the German detachment that had entered Lille three days earlier left the city. The Germans returned for good only in October.
- Sinking of HMS PathfinderOn 5 September 1914 the German U-21 sank the cruiser HMS Pathfinder off Scotland, the first British warship sunk by a submarine.
- Battle of the Masurian Lakes beginsAt the beginning of September 1914 Hindenburg's German Eighth Army moved against Rennenkampf's Russian First Army. The Battle of the Masurian Lakes began.
- Defence of AbercornOn 5 September 1914 troops from German East Africa crossed the border of Northern Rhodesia. The small garrison of Abercorn held out until relief arrived.
- Pact of LondonOn 5 September 1914 in London Britain, France and Russia pledged not to make a separate peace. The Entente became a formal wartime alliance.
- 06
- Key eventBattle of the Marne beginsOn 6 September 1914 the French armies and the British went over to the counter-offensive from Paris to Verdun. The battle that decided 1914 had begun.
- Serbs cross the Sava and begin the operation in SyrmiaOn 6 September 1914 the Serbian army crossed the Sava into Austro-Hungarian Syrmia. At Mitrovica the Timok Division was routed.
- Skirmish on the TsavoOn 6 September 1914 in the Tsavo valley in British East Africa, Indian and African soldiers clashed with Germans heading for the Uganda Railway.
- 07
- Capitulation of MaubeugeOn 7 September 1914, after almost two weeks of siege and bombardment, the French fortress of Maubeuge surrendered to the Germans. Its garrison was captured.
- Battle of Tarnawka beginsOn 7 September 1914 the Battle of Tarnawka broke out south of Lublin. The reinforced Russians struck Dankl's Austro-Hungarian army and forced it to retreat.
- Naval operations off Duala beginOn 7 September 1914 British warships began operations at the mouth of the Wouri, preparing the Allied attack on Duala, the main port of German Kamerun.
- 08
- Second Austro-Hungarian invasion of SerbiaDuring the night of 7/8 September 1914 Potiorek's armies crossed the Drina again. Austria-Hungary meant to draw the Serbs out of Syrmia and avenge Cer.
- Battle of the Drina beginsOn 8 September 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops crossed the Drina. In the mountains of western Serbia a battle began that turned into trench warfare.
- Battle of Gródek and Rawa Ruska beginsOn 8 September 1914 Conrad launched the Austro-Hungarian armies at Lviv via Gródek Jagielloński. The Russian Fifth Army threatened them from the north.
- General Maxwell takes command in EgyptOn 8 September 1914 General Sir John Maxwell took command of the British troops in Egypt. His main task was the defence of the Suez Canal.
- 09
- Key eventGermans retreat from the MarneOn 9 September 1914 the German 1st and 2nd Armies began to retreat from the Marne, sealed by Moltke's envoy Hentsch. The plan for a quick victory failed.
- Battle of Tarnawka endsOn 9 September 1914 the fighting at Tarnawka south of Lublin ended. Broken by the Russians, Dankl's army began to retreat southwards towards the San.
- Ottoman Empire abolishes the capitulationsOn 9 September 1914 the Ottoman government announced an end to the capitulations, foreign privileges, from 1 October. All the powers, Germany too, objected.
- Fighting at KarongaOn 9 September 1914 British troops repulsed a German attack on Karonga in Nyasaland, now Malawi, the first serious clash of the war in this part of Africa.
- Defence of Abercorn endsOn 9 September 1914 relief reached Abercorn in Northern Rhodesia. The reinforced garrison beat off another German attack and the raiders fell back.
- Indian troops arrive at SuezIn September 1914 the first units of Indian Expeditionary Force A reached Suez. Some stayed in Egypt, while the rest sailed on to France.
- 10
- End of the Battle of the MarneOn 10 September 1914 the British and French pursued the retreating Germans. British historiography regards this day as the end of the Battle of the Marne.
- Serbs take ZemunOn 10 September 1914 Serbian troops crossed the Sava and took Zemun, the Austro-Hungarian town opposite Belgrade. Regent Alexander rode into it.
- Emden's first prize in the Indian OceanOn 10 September 1914 the German cruiser Emden stopped the Greek collier Pontoporos in the Bay of Bengal. Captain von Müller's famous raid had begun.
- German and Austro-Hungarian representatives expelled from EgyptIn September 1914 the authorities of Egypt, under British pressure, expelled the diplomatic and consular representatives of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
- 11
- Battle of Gródek and Rawa Ruska endsOn 11 September 1914 the Austro-Hungarian bid to retake Lviv failed. The Russians broke the front at Rawa Ruska; Conrad ordered a retreat behind the San.
- The great Austro-Hungarian retreat in GaliciaOn 11 September 1914 Conrad ordered the Austro-Hungarian armies back behind the San, then the Dunajec. Russia took most of Galicia and besieged Przemyśl.
- Serbs withdraw from SyrmiaOn 11 September 1914 Vojvoda Putnik halted the offensive in Syrmia. The Serbian First Army went back across the Sava to face a second Austro-Hungarian invasion.
- Kitchener's second New Army is formedOn 11 September 1914 the British government ordered the formation of a second New Army of volunteers. It comprised six infantry divisions, the 15th to 20th.
- Australians land in the Bismarck ArchipelagoOn 11 September 1914 the Australian expeditionary force landed on New Britain in German New Guinea. Its objective was the German wireless station at Bita Paka.
- 12
- End of the Battle of the Grand CouronnéOn 12 September 1914 the Battle of the Grand Couronné ended. The German 6th Army withdrew from Nancy, and the French recovered Lunéville and Pont-à-Mousson.
- Key eventBattle of the Aisne beginsOn 12 September 1914 the British and French, pursuing the Germans after the Marne, reached the Aisne. The Germans dug in on the heights beyond the river.
- Battle of Bita PakaIn September 1914 Australians captured the German radio station at Bita Paka on New Britain. Six soldiers died in Australia's first fight of the war.
- 13
- French retake Soissons and AmiensIn mid-September 1914 the Germans, retreating after the Battle of the Marne, left Soissons and Amiens. French troops returned to both cities.
- Kitchener's third New Army is formedOn 13 September 1914 the British War Office ordered the formation of a third New Army of volunteers, consisting of six infantry divisions.
- 14
- Germans leave ReimsIn mid-September 1914 the Germans withdrew from Reims but dug in on the nearby hills. On 14 September the shelling of the city began. It lasted four years.
- Carmania sinks Cap TrafalgarOn 14 September 1914 off Trindade in the South Atlantic the British armed merchant cruiser Carmania sank the German Cap Trafalgar. Both were liners.
- Falkenhayn replaces MoltkeOn 14 September 1914 Helmuth von Moltke, broken by defeat on the Marne, was removed from command. Erich von Falkenhayn took over direction of the German army.
- 15
- Battle of the Aisne endsBy the British reckoning the Battle of the Aisne ended on 15 September 1914. The Allies failed to drive the Germans off the heights and both sides dug in.
- End of the Battle of the Masurian LakesOn 15 September 1914 the Battle of the Masurian Lakes ended. Rennenkampf's Russian 1st Army, beaten but not encircled, withdrew from East Prussia.
- Russians occupy CzernowitzIn September 1914 Russian troops occupied Czernowitz, capital of Austrian Bukovina. During the war the city changed hands several times.
- Boer rebellion beginsOn 15 September 1914 General Beyers left the army of the Union of South Africa in protest against the war, and General De la Rey was killed by a police bullet.
- 17
- German New Guinea capitulatesOn 17 September 1914 acting governor Eduard Haber accepted the terms of capitulation of German New Guinea. The colony came under Australian occupation.
- Serbs evacuate SemlinFor 17 September 1914 the British chronology records the Serbs leaving Syrmia and Semlin. The Austro-Hungarians returned, and with them reprisals.
- Austro-Hungarian offensive on the Drina runs out of steamAround 17 September 1914 the force of Potiorek's second offensive on the Drina was spent. Heavy fighting for the heights, however, went on for weeks.
- British naval mission leaves TurkeyIn September 1914 the British naval mission of Admiral Arthur Limpus left Turkey. German officers took over the Ottoman fleet.
- Admiral Souchon takes command of the Turkish fleetIn September 1914 the German admiral Wilhelm Souchon took command of the Ottoman fleet. A few weeks later he drew Turkey into the war.
- 19
- Indian troops sail from Egypt to MarseilleOn 19 September 1914 the first units of Indian Expeditionary Force A sailed from Egypt for France. A week later they landed at Marseille.
- Fire at Reims CathedralOn 19 September 1914 German shells set fire to Reims Cathedral, where the kings of France were crowned. The burning church became a symbol of wartime barbarity.
- French fleet bombards KotorOn 19 September 1914 French battleships shelled Austro-Hungarian batteries at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor, covering the withdrawal of their own cruisers.
- South African troops occupy LüderitzbuchtOn 19 September 1914 troops of the Union of South Africa landed unopposed at Lüderitzbucht. The invasion of German South West Africa had begun.
- Britain and France guarantee the integrity of Belgium's coloniesOn 19 September 1914 Britain and France assured Belgium that it would keep its colonies after the war, above all the Belgian Congo.
- Secret agreement between Russia and RomaniaIn autumn 1914 Russia, in a secret agreement, recognised Romania's claim to Transylvania and part of Bukovina in return for Bucharest's benevolent neutrality.
- 21
- French briefly enter NoyonOn 21 September 1914 General Castelnau's troops entered Noyon but could not hold it. The town remained in German hands until March 1917.
- Russians take JarosławOn 21 September 1914 the Austrians left the Jarosław bridgehead, their last on the east bank of the San. The Russians took the town; Przemyśl was under siege.
- German troops in New Guinea surrenderOn 21 September 1914 the last German units on New Britain laid down their arms at Herbertshöhe. One German officer hid in the jungle until 1919.
- Britain extends its contraband listOn 21 September 1914 a British proclamation declared copper, lead, rubber, glycerine, iron ore and hides, among others, to be conditional contraband.
- 22
- Key eventFirst Battle of Picardy beginsOn 22 September 1914 General de Castelnau's new French Second Army attacked north of the Oise. The Race to the Sea had begun.
- Key eventFirst Battle of Albert beginsIn September 1914 the French and Germans clashed at Albert and Bapaume. On the heights above the Somme a front formed that held until the Somme battle of 1916.
- Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy are sunkOn 22 September 1914 the German U-9 sank three British armoured cruisers in about an hour. Almost 1,500 sailors were killed.
- Von Spee shells PapeeteOn 22 September 1914 the cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau shelled Papeete on Tahiti. The French burned the coal stocks before the Germans could seize them.
- Emden bombards MadrasOn the night of 22 September 1914 the German cruiser Emden shelled Madras and set its oil tanks ablaze. The attack caused panic on India's east coast.
- First British air raid on GermanyOn 22 September 1914 Royal Naval Air Service airmen took off from Antwerp to bomb the airship sheds at Düsseldorf and Cologne. Fog got in their way.
- First wireless link between an aircraft and artilleryIn September 1914 Royal Flying Corps airmen over the Aisne first directed artillery fire by wireless. It was the beginning of aerial artillery observation.
- 24
- Germans take PéronneOn 24 September 1914 German troops again occupied Péronne on the Somme. The town remained in their hands until March 1917.
- First siege of Przemyśl beginsOn 24 September 1914 the Russian Third Army cut Przemyśl off from the Austro-Hungarian army. The first siege of one of the largest fortresses in Europe began.
- Russians enter HungaryOn 24 September 1914 Russian troops crossed the Carpathian passes and entered northern Hungary. At the beginning of October they were driven back.
- Germans take Saint-MihielOn 24 September 1914 the Bavarians took Saint-Mihiel on the Meuse and next day Fort Camp des Romains, creating a salient held by Germany until September 1918.
- 25
- Germans retake NoyonAccording to the British chronology the Germans retook Noyon on the Oise on 25 September 1914. The front settled just beyond it and held until March 1917.
- First Battle of Albert endsThe British chronology ends the First Battle of Albert on 25 September 1914, but fighting for the heights between Albert and Bapaume went on to the month's end.
- Fighting on the Niemen beginsOn 25 September 1914 the German 8th Army attacked Russian positions on the Niemen between Grodno and Kovno, with fighting around Druskieniki and Grodno.
- 26
- End of the First Battle of PicardyOn 26 September 1914 the First Battle of Picardy ended. The French failed to turn the German flank, and the front between the Oise and Somme set in trenches.
- Germans occupy BapaumeOn 26 September 1914 German troops took Bapaume in Artois. The town stayed in their hands until March 1917 and became an objective of the Battle of the Somme.
- First Indian troops land at MarseilleOn 26 September 1914 the first units of Indian Expeditionary Force "A" landed at Marseille. A month later they were already fighting in Flanders.
- 27
- Key eventSiege of Antwerp beginsOn 27 September 1914 the Germans began the siege of Antwerp, Belgium's last fortress. The next day heavy mortars began to smash the outer forts.
- Key eventFirst Battle of Artois beginsOn 27 September 1914 the Race to the Sea reached Artois. The French and Germans began fighting for Arras, Lens and the heights that shaped the front for years.
- Allies capture DualaOn 27 September 1914 British and French troops took Duala, the main port of German Kamerun. The Germans withdrew inland and fought on there until 1916.
- 28
- Germans occupy MechelenOn 28 September 1914, in the first days of the siege of Antwerp, the Germans took Mechelen, the city of Belgium's archbishops, shelled since August.
- First markings on German aircraftAt the end of September 1914 it was noted that German aircraft bore black crosses. The markings were meant to protect airmen from their own troops' fire.
- General Barrett to command the expedition to MesopotamiaOn 28 September 1914 General Arthur Barrett was named commander of Indian Expeditionary Force D, intended for operations at the head of the Persian Gulf.
October
- 02
- Germans occupy DendermondeOn 2 October 1914 the Germans again occupied ruined Dendermonde on the Scheldt, threatening the road by which the Belgian army could leave Antwerp.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "E" is formedOn 2 October 1914 Indian Expeditionary Force "E" was formed in Egypt. Indian troops were to defend the Suez Canal against the Turks.
- 03
- German cavalry in YpresThe British chronology records the capture of Ypres by German cavalry on 3 October 1914. Its main body entered the town several days later.
- The British leave the Aisne frontOn 3 October 1914 the British Expeditionary Force began secretly leaving the Aisne front. It was to move north, closer to the Channel ports.
- British marines arrive in AntwerpOn 3 October 1914 Winston Churchill arrived in Antwerp. That night the Royal Marine Brigade arrived and took up positions on the Nete near Lier.
- First Canadian contingent sails for EnglandOn 3 October 1914 a convoy carrying over 30,000 Canadians sailed from Gaspé Bay for England. The first contingent from Newfoundland joined them.
- End of the Austro-Hungarian retreat in GaliciaIn early October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies halted on the Dunajec and the Biała. After three weeks of retreat they were preparing a counter-offensive.
- Russians take MáramarosszigetIn early October 1914 Russian cavalry that had crossed the Carpathian passes took Máramarossziget, capital of the Hungarian county of Máramaros.
- British lay mines off the Belgian coastIn early October 1914 the Royal Navy laid its first minefield in open waters, between the Goodwin Sands and Belgium, to protect the Channel routes.
- 04
- The Germans take Lens and BailleulOn 4 October 1914 the Germans entered Lens, centre of the Artois coalfield. The British chronology also records the capture of Bailleul.
- Battle of Arras endsOn 4 October 1914 Maud'huy considered retreating from Arras, but Joffre forbade it and sent Foch north. Arras was saved, and the Germans took Lens.
- Austria-Hungary launches a counter-offensive in GaliciaIn early October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies advanced east from the Dunajec. They drove the Russians behind the San and relieved Przemyśl, then stalled.
- Essad Pasha forms a government in DurrësIn early October 1914 Essad Pasha Toptani returned to Albania, took Durrës and became head of the government. He was backed by Serbia and Italy.
- 07
- Austro-Hungarians retake MáramarosszigetOn 7 October 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops, supported by the Polish Legions, drove the Cossacks out of Máramarossziget, capital of Máramaros, taken days before.
- Belgian government moves to OstendOn 7 October 1914 the Belgian government left Antwerp and moved to Ostend. The army was withdrawing across the Scheldt and residents fled the bombardment.
- Japanese occupy YapOn 7 October 1914 a Japanese squadron occupied the island of Yap in the Carolines, an important hub of German telegraph cables and radio links in the Pacific.
- 08
- Foch takes command in FlandersAccording to the British chronicle, on 8 October 1914 Foch took command of the Allied forces in Flanders. In practice his role was above all to coordinate them.
- Second British air raid on GermanyOn 8 October 1914 RNAS pilot Reginald Marix bombed a shed in Düsseldorf and destroyed the airship Z IX. Spenser Grey failed to find his target at Cologne.
- End of the first Russian invasion of HungaryA British chronicle dates the end of the first Russian invasion of Hungary to 8 October 1914. The Russians were then falling back behind the Carpathian passes.
- 09
- Germans occupy Armentières, Hazebrouck, Merville and EstairesA British chronicle records the German capture of four towns in French Flanders on 9 October 1914. In reality these were cavalry raids.
- Germans occupy MeninThe British chronology records the German capture of Menin on the Lys around 9 October 1914. Belgian sources date the town's occupation from 14 October.
- Fall of the last forts of AntwerpOn 9 October 1914 the Germans found the inner ring forts abandoned and entered Antwerp. The burgomaster signed the fortress's surrender at Kontich.
- Battles of Warsaw and Dęblin beginOn 9 October 1914 the Germans reached the Vistula and moved on Warsaw. The British chronology dates the start of the battles of Warsaw and Dęblin to this day.
- Relief of PrzemyślOn 9 October 1914 cavalry of General Boroević's Third Army reached Przemyśl. After a failed assault the Russians drew back from the fortress behind the San.
- 10
- Capitulation of AntwerpOn 10 October 1914 Antwerp formally capitulated. Governor Deguise surrendered at Fort Sainte-Marie, and thousands of soldiers were interned in the Netherlands.
- British retake Hazebrouck and EstairesThe British chronicle records the recapture of Hazebrouck and Estaires on 10 October 1914. British cavalry entered Hazebrouck; Estaires was still under threat.
- Key eventBattle of La Bassée beginsOn 10 October 1914 the British II Corps, moved from the Aisne, marched towards Béthune and La Bassée. So began the British fighting in Flanders.
- Panama Canal neutrality protocolOn 10 October 1914 the United States and Panama signed a protocol meant to stop belligerent warships from evading the canal's neutrality rules.
- King Carol I of Romania diesOn 10 October 1914 King Carol I of Romania, a backer of the alliance with Germany, died. His nephew Ferdinand I, closer to the Entente, took the throne.
- 11
- The British retake MervilleThe British chronology records the recapture of Merville on 11 October 1914. The British 1st Cavalry Division took the Lys town, linking up with the French.
- Sinking of the cruiser PalladaOn 11 October 1914 the German U-26 torpedoed the Russian cruiser Pallada at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. The ship blew up with all hands.
- Australians capture the yacht KometOn 11 October 1914 the Australian patrol vessel Nusa surprised the German government yacht Komet in a bay on New Britain and took her without a shot.
- 12
- Key eventBattle of Messines beginsOn 12 October 1914 Allenby's British cavalry took the Mont des Cats in Flanders. The battle for the Messines ridge south of Ypres had begun.
- First Battle of Artois endsOn 12 October 1914 the First Battle of Artois ended. The French held Arras, but Lens and the heights of Vimy and Lorette remained in German hands.
- Belgians abandon Ostend and ZeebruggeOn 12 October 1914 the Belgians abandoned Ostend and Zeebrugge. The King and government left, the army fell back to the Yser and the ports were left undefended.
- Capitulation of LilleOn 12 October 1914, after heavy bombardment, the French garrison of Lille surrendered. For the city a German occupation lasting four years began.
- Germans occupy GhentOn 12 October 1914 the Germans entered Ghent, abandoned by the Allies after the fighting at Melle. The city remained under occupation until November 1918.
- 13
- Key eventBattle of Armentières beginsOn 13 October 1914 the British III Corps attacked the Germans at Meteren in Flanders. After a day's fighting in rain it took the village, losing over 700 men.
- Allies return to YpresIn mid-October 1914 Rawlinson's British IV Corps, falling back from Ghent, reached Ypres. French Territorial divisions took up positions beside it.
- U-boats on the Southampton–Le Havre routeOn 13 October 1914 a British torpedo boat came upon a German submarine off the Isle of Wight. The Admiralty diverted the Canadian convoy to Plymouth.
- Battle of Chyrów beginsOn 13 October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies launched a general attack on the Russian Eighth Army at Chyrów and Stary Sambor. A hard battle began.
- Belgian government in Le HavreOn 13 October 1914 the Belgian government sailed from Ostend to Le Havre. It settled in Sainte-Adresse, and France granted its buildings extraterritoriality.
- 14
- British occupy BailleulOn 14 October 1914 the British III Corps entered Bailleul in French Flanders. The Germans had left the town after less than a week of occupation.
- Germans occupy BrugesOn 14 October 1914 the Germans entered Bruges without a fight. The city soon became the headquarters of the German navy in Flanders and a U-boat base.
- British capture YabassiOn 14 October 1914 British troops took the German post of Yabassi on the Wouri river in Kamerun. A first attack a week earlier had failed.
- 15
- Germans reach the Belgian coastOn 15 October 1914 the Germans reached the North Sea in Belgium. The race to the sea was ending; the Belgians dug in on the Yser between Nieuport and Dixmude.
- Germans occupy Ostend and ZeebruggeOn 15 October 1914 the Germans took Ostend and Zeebrugge without a fight. Both ports became bases for U-boats and torpedo boats threatening shipping.
- Canadians land in EnglandOn 15 October 1914 the first Canadian contingent began disembarking at Plymouth. It took over a week, and from there the soldiers went on to Salisbury Plain.
- Sinking of HMS HawkeOn 15 October 1914 Otto Weddigen's U-9 sank the British cruiser Hawke in the North Sea. More than 520 sailors were killed and about 70 survived.
- 16
- Key eventBattle of the Yser beginsOn 16 October 1914 the Germans attacked Diksmuide. By Belgian reckoning this began the Battle of the Yser, in defence of the last strip of their country.
- New Zealanders sail for warOn 16 October 1914 about 8,500 New Zealand soldiers sailed from Wellington. They were meant to fight in Europe but ended up in Egypt.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" sails for AfricaOn 16 October 1914 General Aitken's Indian Expeditionary Force "B" sailed from Bombay. Some 8,000 soldiers were to conquer German East Africa.
- Indian Expeditionary Force D sails for the Persian GulfOn 16 October 1914 General Delamain's 16th Indian Brigade sailed from Bombay. It was to protect British oil in Persia in case of war with Turkey.
- Antonino di San Giuliano diesOn 16 October 1914 the Italian Foreign Minister Antonino di San Giuliano, the architect of Italy's policy of neutrality, died in Rome.
- 17
- The British retake ArmentièresOn 17 October 1914 the British III Corps entered Armentières, hastily abandoned by the Germans. The town remained in Allied hands until 1918.
- Battle off TexelOn 17 October 1914 the British cruiser Undaunted and four destroyers sank four German torpedo boats off Texel that were on their way to lay mines.
- British submarines enter the BalticOn 17–18 October 1914 the British submarines E1 and E9 forced their way through the Sound into the Baltic. They were to support the Russian fleet.
- Alarm at Scapa FlowOn 16–17 October 1914 an alarm over a supposed U-boat was raised at the Grand Fleet base, Scapa Flow. The fleet put to sea, though no submarine was ever found.
- Australians sail for the warIn mid-October 1914 the first Australian units boarded ships and sailed for Albany. From there the convoy set out for Egypt on 1 November.
- 18
- British ships shell the Belgian coastOn 18 October 1914 Admiral Hood's flotilla backed the Belgians on the Yser from the sea, shelling the Germans on the coast between Nieuport and Ostend.
- Germans take RoeselareOn 18–19 October 1914 the Germans took Roeselare after fighting the French. Taking the inhabitants for francs-tireurs, they murdered dozens of civilians.
- Grand Fleet leaves Scapa FlowOn 18 October 1914, fearing U-boats, the Grand Fleet began moving from Scapa Flow to Lough Swilly in Ireland and Loch na Keal on the island of Mull.
- Sinking of the cruiser TakachihoOn the night of 17–18 October 1914 the German torpedo boat S90 sank the Japanese cruiser Takachiho off Tsingtao. About 270 sailors were killed.
- 19
- Key eventFirst Battle of Ypres beginsOn 19 October 1914 a British attack on Menin ran into new German corps. This was how the First Battle of Ypres began.
- British complete their move to FlandersOn 19 October 1914 Haig's I Corps finished detraining near Hazebrouck. The whole British army, moved from the Aisne, now stood in Flanders.
- First Indian soldiers at the frontA British chronicle records the arrival of the first Indian soldiers at the front on 19 October 1914. They entered the trenches at Messines on 22–23 October.
- Battle of Warsaw endsAround 19 October 1914 the Germans began to withdraw from Warsaw. The British chronology ends the Battle of Warsaw on that day.
- 20
- Battle of Dęblin endsThe British chronology ends the Battle of Ivangorod, or Dęblin, on 20 October 1914. In reality the fighting there went on for another week.
- Sinking of the GlitraOn 20 October 1914 the German U-17 stopped and sank the British steamer Glitra off Norway. She was the first merchant ship sunk by a U-boat.
- 22
- Austro-Hungarians retake CzernowitzAround 20–22 October 1914 Austro-Hungarian forces recovered Czernowitz, the capital of Bukovina, which the Russians had taken at the beginning of September.
- United States abandons the Declaration of LondonOn 22 October 1914 the USA withdrew its proposal to apply the Declaration of London and said it would defend neutral rights on the basis of the old rules.
- Polish Military Organisation foundedOn 22 October 1914 Piłsudski's envoy Tadeusz Żuliński took command of the riflemen's underground in Warsaw and named it the Polish Military Organisation.
- 26
- Germans attack AngolaIn late October 1914 the Germans in South West Africa resolved to avenge the Naulila incident and struck at Portuguese posts in Angola.
- French take EdeaOn 26 October 1914 Colonel Mayer's French troops took Edea on the Sanaga in Kamerun. The British helped them, and the Germans withdrew into the interior.
- Wolfe Murray becomes Chief of the Imperial General StaffOn 26 October 1914 General Sir James Wolfe Murray became Chief of the Imperial General Staff. In Kitchener's shadow he played no significant role.
- 28
- Russians retake CzernowitzThe British chronicle records the Russians' return to Czernowitz on 28 October 1914. Other sources say they entered the Bukovinian capital a month later.
- Emden attacks PenangOn 28 October 1914 the German cruiser Emden slipped by ruse into the harbour of Penang and sank the Russian cruiser Zhemchug and a French destroyer.
- 29
- Key eventBattle of Gheluvelt beginsOn 29 October 1914 the Germans attacked the crossroads at Gheluvelt on the Menin–Ypres road in fog. The next day Fabeck's group began its great offensive.
- Key eventOttoman fleet attacks Russian portsOn 29 October 1914 Admiral Souchon's Ottoman warships shelled Russian Black Sea ports without a declaration of war. Turkey entered the war.
- Britain tightens its contraband rulesOn 29 October 1914 Britain issued new contraband lists and a new order on applying the Declaration of London, replacing the August one.
- Prince Louis of Battenberg resigns from the AdmiraltyOn 29 October 1914 the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Battenberg, stepped down. He fell victim to anti-German feeling.
- 30
- Russians take StanisławówThe British chronicle records the Russian capture of Stanisławów on 30 October 1914. The town had, however, been in their hands since early September.
- Serbs withdraw from the DrinaOn the night of 30–31 October 1914 the Serbian Second Army left its trenches in Mačva on the lower Drina. A retreat began that took the Serbs to the Kolubara.
- Allied ultimatum to TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 London gave Turkey 12 hours to expel the German missions and the crews of Goeben and Breslau, or face a break in relations.
- The Entente breaks off relations with TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 the ambassadors of Russia, Britain and France demanded their passports in Constantinople. War with Turkey was only days away.
- Salandra reshapes his governmentAt the end of October 1914 Antonio Salandra's government resigned. On 5 November the premier formed a new cabinet with Sidney Sonnino as Foreign Minister.
- Wreck of the hospital ship RohillaOn 30 October 1914 the British hospital ship Rohilla was wrecked in a storm off Whitby. The rescue lasted three days. About 85 people died.
- Fisher returns to the AdmiraltyOn 30 October 1914 the 73-year-old Admiral John Fisher became First Sea Lord again. He replaced Prince Louis of Battenberg.
- 31
- Key eventCritical day at YpresOn 31 October 1914 the Germans broke the British line at Gheluvelt. A counter-attack by the 2nd Worcestershire closed the gap, ending the Battle of Gheluvelt.
- Sinking of HMS HermesOn 31 October 1914 U-27 torpedoed the British seaplane carrier Hermes in the Strait of Dover. More than 20 sailors were killed.
- Admiralty orders hostilities against TurkeyOn 31 October 1914 the British Admiralty ordered its ships to begin hostilities against Turkey at once, although war had not yet been declared.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" off MombasaOn 31 October 1914 at Mombasa the command of Force "B" settled the plan to attack Tanga. After a two-week voyage the troops were not landed.
- Aitken replaces StewartAt the end of October 1914 Gen. Arthur Aitken took supreme command in East Africa. Gen. Stewart and his Force "C" came under his orders.
- Königsberg found in the Rufiji deltaAt the end of October 1914 the British found the German cruiser Königsberg hidden in the Rufiji delta in East Africa and blockaded her.
- Kitchener writes to the Sharif of MeccaOn 31 October 1914 Lord Kitchener promised the Sharif of Mecca protection and help if the Arabs supported Britain in the war with Turkey.
November
- 01
- Germans take MessinesIn the night and early morning of 1 November 1914 the Germans took Wytschaete and the Messines ridge. British cavalry left the town and fell back to Wulverghem.
- British begin hostilities against TurkeyOn 1 November 1914 British warships attacked the Turks in the Gulf of Smyrna and at Aqaba, although war had not yet been declared on the Ottoman Empire.
- Battle of CoronelOn 1 November 1914 off Chile Admiral von Spee's squadron sank two British armoured cruisers. Admiral Cradock and about 1,600 sailors were killed.
- Martial law in EgyptAt the start of November 1914 General John Maxwell declared martial law in Egypt. The British promised that they would not call on Egyptians to fight.
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie's X-ray carsIn autumn 1914 Marie Skłodowska-Curie and her daughter Irène set off in the first X-ray car for the front-line hospitals. Soldiers called them "little Curies".
- 02
- End of the battles of Messines and ArmentièresOn 2 November 1914 the Germans took Wytschaete from the French, who relieved the British cavalry. The battles of Messines and Armentières end.
- End of the Battle of La BasséeOn 2 November 1914 the Battle of La Bassée ended. The Indian Corps took over the front between Givenchy and Fauquissart from the exhausted British II Corps.
- End of the Battle of ChyrówOn 2 November 1914 the Battle of Chyrów ended. During the night the Austro-Hungarian armies began to withdraw, and Brusilov set off in pursuit.
- Sinking of the cruiser Kaiserin ElisabethOn 2 November 1914 the crew of the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Kaiserin Elisabeth scuttled her in the harbour of Tsingtao. The sailors fought on ashore.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "F" sails for EgyptAt the beginning of November 1914 three new Indian brigades sailed from India for Egypt. They were to defend the Suez Canal against the Turks.
- India guarantees the inviolability of the holy places of IslamOn 2 November 1914 the Viceroy of India said Britain would not attack the holy places of Arabia and Mesopotamia or Jeddah if the Turks let pilgrims through.
- Key eventRussia declares war on TurkeyOn 2 November 1914 Nicholas II issued a manifesto of war with Turkey. The Tsar said it would open Russia's way to its Black Sea aims, that is, the Straits.
- Serbia at war with TurkeyOn 2 November 1914 Serbia, Russia's ally, found itself at war with the Ottoman Empire. The two countries had no common border and did not fight each other.
- North Sea declared a war zoneOn 2 November 1914 the Admiralty declared the whole North Sea a military area. From 5 November neutral ships were to sail through the English Channel.
- Battle of Tanga beginsOn 2 November 1914 a British cruiser warned the Germans at Tanga that the truce was over. In the evening Force "B" began landing on beaches east of the town.
- 03
- German raid on YarmouthOn 3 November 1914 Hipper's German battlecruisers shelled the coast near Yarmouth and laid mines. The British submarine D5 sank on one of them.
- Grand Fleet returns to Scapa FlowOn 3 November 1914 the Admiralty ordered the Grand Fleet back to Scapa Flow from Ireland. The battleships arrived on 7–9 November, though the base had no booms.
- Skirmish at LongidoOn 3 November 1914 Gen. Stewart's troops attacked the Germans on Mount Longido near Kilimanjaro. After a day's fighting the British withdrew.
- First bombardment of the DardanellesOn 3 November 1914 British and French ships shelled the forts at the mouth of the Dardanelles. A magazine blast wrecked Sedd el Bahr but warned the Turks.
- Sonnino becomes Italian foreign ministerIn early November 1914 Baron Sidney Sonnino took over the Italian foreign ministry. Six months later he signed the secret Treaty of London with the Entente.
- 04
- Loss of the cruiser KarlsruheOn 4 November 1914 an internal explosion tore apart the German cruiser Karlsruhe on her way to attack Barbados. About 260 men died, including her captain.
- Sinking of the cruiser YorckOn 4 November 1914 the German armoured cruiser Yorck strayed in fog onto German mines at the mouth of the Jade and sank. Several hundred sailors died.
- Russians enter TurkeyIn early November 1914 Russian troops crossed the Turkish border in the Caucasus. By 4 November they had reached Azap, about 25 km inside Turkey.
- End of the moratorium in BritainOn 4 November 1914 the general moratorium on the payment of debts, introduced in August for fear of financial panic, expired in Britain.
- 05
- Key eventBritain and France declare war on TurkeyOn 5 November 1914 Britain and France declared war on Turkey. London abandoned its century-old policy of defending the Ottoman Empire against Russia.
- Britain annexes CyprusOn 5 November 1914 Britain annexed Cyprus, which it had administered on the Sultan's behalf since 1878. The island formally ceased to belong to Turkey.
- The Battle of Tanga endsOn 5 November 1914 the beaten Force "B" re-embarked at Tanga, leaving weapons and ammunition on the shore. The defeat cost General Aitken his command.
- Belgium rejects papal mediationAccording to a British chronology, on 5 November 1914 the Belgian government rejected papal mediation. A few days earlier Benedict XV had called for peace.
- 06
- British land at FaoOn 6 November 1914 Indian troops, after a naval bombardment, landed at Fao on the Shatt al-Arab and took the Turkish fort. The Mesopotamian campaign began.
- Turkey breaks off relations with BelgiumOn 6 November 1914 the Ottoman Empire broke off diplomatic relations with Belgium. The Belgian minister left Constantinople, but no war was declared.
- Submarine B11 in the DardanellesOn 6 November 1914, says a British chronology, the submarine B11 went some 2 miles into the Dardanelles. A month later she sank a Turkish battleship there.
- Russians take KöprüköyIn the first week of November 1914 Russian troops reached Köprüköy on the road to Erzurum. The British chronology states that they took it on 6 November.
- France amends its contraband listOn 6 November 1914 France issued a new decree on contraband and applying the Declaration of London, almost identical to the British rules of 29 October.
- 09
- The end of the EmdenOn 9 November 1914 the Australian cruiser Sydney destroyed the German raider Emden off the Cocos Islands. The most famous raid of this war was over.
- Internment of the gunboat Geier in HonoluluAt the beginning of November 1914 the Americans interned the German gunboat Geier and her accompanying collier Locksun in Honolulu.
- Anglo-French prize conventionOn 9 November 1914 Britain and France signed a convention in London that settled whose courts would rule on ships seized by the warships of the two countries.
- 10
- Battle of the Yser endsOn 10 November 1914 the fall of Diksmuide ended the Battle of the Yser. Belgium kept a scrap of its land, held for four years behind a flooded plain.
- Germans take DiksmuideOn 10 November 1914 the Germans took Diksmuide on the Yser, held since mid-October by French marines and Belgians. The defenders fell back across the Yser.
- Second siege of Przemyśl beginsOn 10 November 1914 the Russians again closed the ring around the fortress of Przemyśl. Some 130,000 soldiers and thousands of civilians were encircled.
- British take Sheikh SaidOn 10 November 1914 Indian troops on their way to Egypt landed at Sheikh Said at the entrance to the Red Sea and destroyed a Turkish fort.
- 11
- Key eventPrussian Guard attack at Nonne BosschenOn 11 November 1914 the Prussian Guard broke into the British line at Ypres. Gunners and an Oxfordshire counter-attack stopped the last great German attack.
- Alleged Russian capture of MemelA British chronology records the Russian capture of Memel around 11 November 1914. Sources do not confirm it. The Russians entered the town in March 1915.
- Sheikh ul-Islam issues fatwas on holy warOn 11 November 1914 the Sheikh ul-Islam Mustafa Hayri issued five fatwas declaring the war with Russia, Britain and France a jihad, the duty of every Muslim.
- Sinking of HMS NigerOn 11 November 1914 the German U-12 torpedoed the British torpedo gunboat Niger, serving as a minesweeper, off Deal. Most of the crew were saved.
- 13
- Netherlands protests against changes to the Declaration of LondonOn 13 November 1914 the Dutch government protested against changes to the Declaration of London that tightened Allied controls on neutral trade.
- Barrett takes command in MesopotamiaIn mid-November 1914 General Arthur Barrett arrived on the Shatt al-Arab with 18th Brigade. He took command and was ordered to occupy Basra.
- 14
- Turks retake KöprüköyIn mid-November 1914 an Ottoman Third Army counter-offensive pushed the Russians from Köprüköy almost to the border, the first Turkish success in the Caucasus.
- Lord Roberts diesOn 14 November 1914 Field Marshal Lord Roberts, hero of the wars in Afghanistan and South Africa, died of pneumonia at Saint-Omer.
- Sultan proclaims jihadOn 14 November 1914 the Sultan-Caliph's call to holy war against the Entente was solemnly proclaimed in Constantinople. Germany hoped for Muslim uprisings.
- Japan will not send troops to EuropeIn mid-November 1914 the Japanese government rejected Allied, especially French, requests to send troops to Europe. The Japanese army did not fight in the West.
- 15
- Battle of Kraków beginsIn mid-November 1914 the Russians neared the fortress of Kraków. On 16 November the Austro-Hungarian Fourth Army sallied out and hit their Ninth Army's flank.
- Second Russian invasion of HungaryIn the second half of November 1914 the Russians again crossed the Carpathians into Hungary. They took Humenné late in the month, but were soon driven back.
- Action at SaihanOn 15 November 1914 Gen. Delamain's brigade routed a Turkish force at Saihan on the Shatt al-Arab. It was the first step on the road to Basra.
- 16
- Indian Expeditionary Force "F" in EgyptOn 16 November 1914 the 29th Indian Brigade, the first part of Force "F", came ashore at Suez. It soon took up positions on the Suez Canal.
- Second German offensive against WarsawOn 16 November 1914 the German Ninth Army crossed the Bzura and advanced on Łódź. The British chronology treats this day as the start of the Battle of Łódź.
- 17
- Germans bombard LibauOn 17 November 1914 German warships shelled Libau for several hours and sank ships at the harbour entrance to close it to submarines.
- Sinking of the cruiser Friedrich CarlOn the night of 17 November 1914 the German armoured cruiser Friedrich Carl struck Russian mines off Memel and sank. Seven or eight sailors were killed.
- Russians shell TrebizondOn 17 November 1914 the Russian Black Sea Fleet shelled Trebizond, a key supply port for the Ottoman army in the Caucasus. Mines were laid there at night.
- Action at SahilOn 17 November 1914 two brigades of Gen. Barrett routed the main Turkish force at Sahil on the Shatt al-Arab in rain and mud. The road to Basra lay open.
- 18
- The French government begins returning to ParisIn the second half of November 1914 the French authorities began a gradual return from Bordeaux to Paris. The government moved back in early December.
- Battle of Cape SarychOn 18 November 1914, in fog off the Crimea, Russian battleships clashed with Goeben. After a quarter of an hour of fire Souchon turned away into the fog.
- 22
- End of the First Battle of YpresOn 22 November 1914 the First Battle of Ypres ended. The French took over the salient around the town and the bled-white British army a sector further south.
- War Office takes over the East African campaignOn 22 November 1914, after the defeat at Tanga, direction of British operations in East Africa passed from the India Office to the War Office in London.
- The British occupy BasraOn 22 November 1914 British and Indian troops entered Basra, abandoned by the Turks. The next day the occupation of the city was formally proclaimed.
- Alleged Russian reoccupation of KöprüköyThe British chronology records the Russian reoccupation of Köprüköy on 22 November 1914. Studies do not confirm it. The Caucasus front went quiet.
- 23
- Netherlands Overseas Trust is foundedIn November 1914 Dutch merchants, shipowners and bankers founded the NOT, a private company guaranteeing the Allies that overseas goods would not reach Germany.
- Portugal announces cooperation with BritainOn 23 November 1914 the Portuguese parliament authorised the government to take part in the war at Britain's side "when and how it deems necessary".
- 30
- Battle of the Bzura beginsOn 30 November 1914 the left wing of the German Ninth Army, reinforced from the west, moved against the Russians at Łowicz and Sanniki.
- Serbs abandon BelgradeOn 30 November 1914 Serbian troops left Belgrade to shorten the front on the Kolubara. Two days later the Austro-Hungarians entered the abandoned capital.
December
- 01
- Battle of Limanowa beginsOn 1 December 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops assembled in the Raba valley moved down from the mountains to strike the flank of the Russian Third Army near Kraków.
- Australians and New Zealanders at SuezOn 1 December 1914 the first ships of the convoy from Australia and New Zealand anchored at Suez. The troops, bound for England, were to stay in Egypt.
- Capture of Christiaan de WetOn 1 December 1914 at Waterbury farm near Vryburg a government force surrounded and captured Gen. Christiaan de Wet, one of the leaders of the Boer rebellion.
- 02
- Austrians occupy BelgradeOn 2 December 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops took abandoned Belgrade without a fight. The same day the Serbian command issued the order for a counter-offensive.
- Battle of Kraków endsThe British chronology ends the Battle of Kraków on 2 December 1914. Fighting north of the fortress had died down days earlier, and the front had moved south.
- Liebknecht votes against war creditsOn 2 December 1914 the Reichstag passed another 5 billion marks of war credits. The only deputy to vote against was the Social Democrat Karl Liebknecht.
- 03
- Serbian counter-offensive on the KolubaraOn 3 December 1914 the Serbian army unexpectedly struck Potiorek's forces. The heaviest blow, by Mišić's First Army, fell on the Austro-Hungarian XVI Corps.
- Australia will not occupy the islands north of the equatorIn early December 1914 London gave way to Japan and decided that the Australians would not occupy the German islands north of the equator held by Japan.
- 04
- Fighting for Qurna beginsOn 4 December 1914 Indian troops landed near Qurna and drove the Turks out of the village of Muzaira, but failed to cross the Tigris and returned to camp.
- Wapshare replaces AitkenAfter the defeat at Tanga Gen. Arthur Aitken was recalled. Command of the British forces in East Africa passed to Gen. Richard Wapshare.
- Portuguese reinforcements sail for AngolaIn early December 1914 more Portuguese units sailed from Lisbon to Angola to strengthen the colony's defence against a German attack from the south.
- The Puławy Legion is formedOn 4 December 1914 the first volunteers of a Polish Legion, raised with Russian consent and National Democrat backing against Piłsudski's, reached Puławy.
- 05
- Entente démarche in Athens, Sofia and BucharestAccording to the British chronology, on 5 December 1914 the Entente took steps in Athens, Sofia and Bucharest to secure help for embattled Serbia.
- Serbia will not conclude a separate peaceOn 5 December 1914 Nikola Pašić formed a coalition government in Niš. On 7 December it declared that Serbia, loyal to its allies, would fight to victory.
- 06
- Austrian defeat on the KolubaraOn 6 December 1914 the beaten XVI Corps lost its last mountain positions. Potiorek ordered the 6th Army back behind the Kolubara, and panic seized the rear.
- Romania refuses guarantees for GreeceAccording to the British chronology, on 6 December 1914 Romania refused guarantees for Greece. Without them Athens, fearing Bulgaria, would not help Serbia.
- Germans take ŁódźOn 6 December 1914 German troops entered Łódź, abandoned by the Russians. For its inhabitants an occupation lasting almost four years began.
- 08
- End of the fighting for QurnaOn 8 December 1914 Indian troops crossed the Tigris above Qurna and threatened to cut off the garrison. That night Turkish envoys came to surrender.
- Battle of the Falkland IslandsOn 8 December 1914 the British destroyed Admiral von Spee's squadron off the Falklands. Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Leipzig and Nürnberg sank; only Dresden escaped.
- 10
- Von der Goltz leaves for TurkeyOn 10 December 1914 Field Marshal Colmar von der Goltz set out for Constantinople. He did not command the Ottoman army but became the Sultan's aide-de-camp.
- Goeben shells BatumOn 10 December 1914 the battlecruiser Goeben shelled the Russian port of Batum in the Caucasus. The bombardment lasted under ten minutes and did little damage.
- 12
- End of the second Russian invasion of HungaryA British chronicle records the end of the second Russian invasion of Hungary on 12 December 1914. The last Russian units then fell back behind the Carpathians.
- Azevedo Coutinho becomes Prime Minister of PortugalOn 12 December 1914 naval officer Vítor Hugo de Azevedo Coutinho became Portugal's prime minister. His almost wholly Democratic cabinet met resistance at once.
- 14
- Attack at WytschaeteOn 14 December 1914 the Allies attacked in Flanders. Two Scottish battalions struck at Petit Bois and Maedelstede near Wytschaete, suffering heavy losses.
- Internment of Cormoran at GuamOn 14 December 1914 the German auxiliary cruiser Cormoran, formerly the Russian Ryazan, reached American Guam out of coal. The ship and her crew were interned.
- 15
- End of the Battle of ŁódźA British chronology ends the Battle of Łódź on 15 December 1914. Łódź fell on 6 December, but in mid-month the Russians were still falling back to the Bzura.
- Serbs retake BelgradeOn 15 December 1914 the last Austro-Hungarian units withdrew across the Sava and the Serbian army returned to Belgrade. The third invasion of Serbia had failed.
- Key eventGerman airship off the English coastOn 15 December 1914 a German airship was sighted off the Humber estuary. It was the first confirmed presence of an enemy aircraft off the English coast.
- 16
- Bombardment of Scarborough and HartlepoolOn 16 December 1914 Hipper's battlecruisers shelled Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. Over a hundred people died, mostly civilians, and the Germans escaped.
- Japan will not give up the islands north of the equatorIn December 1914 Foreign Minister Katō Takaaki told the Diet that the fate of the German islands held by Japan would be settled only at the peace conference.
- 17
- End of the Battle of the BzuraOn 17 December 1914 the battle of Łowicz and Sanniki came to an end. The Russians gave up Łowicz and took up new positions behind the lower Bzura and the Rawka.
- End of the Battle of LimanowaThe British chronology ends the Battle of Limanowa on 17 December 1914. Fighting had stopped days earlier, but Vienna then announced a general Russian retreat.
- Turkish offensive in the CaucasusThe British chronology dates the start of the Turkish offensive in the Caucasus to 17 December 1914. In fact Enver Pasha was then finishing his preparations.
- 18
- British protectorate over EgyptOn 18 December 1914 Britain proclaimed a protectorate over Egypt. This ended the formal suzerainty of the Ottoman sultan over the country.
- Meeting of the Scandinavian kings in MalmöOn 18–19 December 1914 the kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway met in Malmö. With their foreign ministers they made a show of common neutrality.
- Fighting begins on the Rawka and the BzuraOn 18 December 1914 the Germans attacked new Russian positions on the Rawka and the Bzura, opening fighting that became trench warfare lasting until July 1915.
- 19
- Deposition of Abbas II HilmiOn 19 December 1914 the British announced the deposition of Khedive Abbas II Hilmi. His uncle Hussein Kamel became ruler of Egypt with the title of sultan.
- Britain recognises the Treaty of FezOn 19 December 1914 Britain recognised the 1912 French protectorate over Morocco. In return France recognised the British protectorate over Egypt.
- 20
- Key eventFirst Battle of Champagne beginsOn 20 December 1914 the French Fourth Army attacked the German trenches in Champagne. The first great offensive against fortified lines in the west had begun.
- Key eventDefence of GivenchyOn 20 December 1914 the Germans blew mines under the Indian Corps' trenches at Givenchy and broke its line. Men from Manchester retook the village that evening.
- 21
- First German air raid on EnglandOn 21 December 1914 a German seaplane from Zeebrugge dropped two bombs into the sea near the harbour at Dover. It was the first German air raid on England.
- British take JasinAt the end of December 1914 Gen. Michael Tighe's troops cleared the Germans from the British East Africa border and took Jasin on the Umba river.
- 25
- Cuxhaven raidOn 25 December 1914 seven British seaplanes took off from ships off Heligoland to bomb the Zeppelin sheds. They failed to find their target.
- Christmas truceAt Christmas 1914, on parts of the Western Front, soldiers stopped fighting of their own accord, left the trenches, exchanged gifts and buried the dead.
- 26
- Italians land at VlorëAt the end of December 1914 neutral Italy occupied the Albanian port of Vlorë. Rome assured Vienna that the occupation was temporary.
- Garibaldi Legion in the ArgonneOn 26 December 1914 Peppino Garibaldi's Italian volunteers first attacked in the Argonne. His brother Bruno, grandson of the hero of Italian unity, fell.
- 29
- Battle of Sarikamish beginsIn late December 1914 Enver Pasha's troops stormed Sarikamish in the Russian rear. On 29 December a Turkish detachment broke into the town but was driven out.
- London defends its blockade against a US protestAt the end of December 1914 the US government protested against the detention of American ships and cargoes. London replied by defending its control of trade.